The Right To Hate...

Is this is more suitable in the General Forum, please move

A bit of a weird one this, but stick with me. 

At work as well as in the pub, me, my mates and their mates have banter about football.  Now in all my time following LFC I’ve labelled 3 types of fan.

1.   The Hardcore Fanatics – Simple, we go to the games, give our opinions, have updates sent to our phones and always have a window open on our computers containing information about our beloved 


2.   The Fans – Will follow the team by checking the results, will watch MOTD or Football first, read about the team and go the odd match


3.   The Supporters – “Who do you support?”  “Liverpool” “Great! What do you think of Kelly?  Do you think he’ll make the starting 11?  He seems to have progressed and I reckon will be a regular in the next few week”…………………….  “Yes”


Now it’s the supporters that I’m ranting about, not their ways, maybe they just don’t care that much about football, Rugby might be their chosen sport and Football just tickles the pickle.  As I was born in St Helens I would consider myself a follower of them, my family are big on rugby, whereas I am not.  I don’t like Warrington Wolves, but I don’t HATE them.

But today in a conversation I got blasted for following LFC.  The usual, “I hate Scousers, dirty scumbags, Ferguson is my hero” etc.  When I asked him if he follows he said “No, I just catch the odd game on TV”

Is it decent to talk like that?  Does he have the right to put down my team and my passion?

I think that the rivalry between, say, us and the scum is meaningful to me. 

We’re enemies of each other. 

The Batman, to their Joker. 

Two clubs that are almost the same, have had successful periods, both have tragic history etc, loyal fan bases, but at the same time, can be totally opposite.

I used United as an example for a reason. 

It is a hatred which was built on success and jealousy.  That started with the old gang and carries on through us and our children, who will learn about the rivalry.

I think that as a fanatic of LFC, following them through the good times and the bad times since a kid, I have earned the right to hate. 

But do the so called ‘fans’ ?

You were right not retaliate. However, whilst the pen is indeed mightier than the sword, a swift punch in the cock would have buttoned his beak.

Imagine.....a sword.....with a built-in pen - you'd be invincible!!!!!

So are you saying we can't be a hardcore fanatic unless we go to matches?

So are you saying we can't be a hardcore fanatic unless we go to matches?

Not at all, during the Not A Penny More campaign i didnt go to the matches, but i still considered myself a fanatic because i voiced opinions, wanted to know the inside goings on with our club and cared passionately.   

Not at all, during the Not A Penny More campaign I didnt go to the matches, but I still considered myself a fanatic because I voiced opinions, wanted to know the inside goings on with our club and cared passionately.  

Okay fair enough.

I do think the guy you mention is a c**t, though. I mean my thing is i don't get too involved in heavy discussions about some American sports teams due to not knowing enough. Some people say a player is a dickhead, until i know enough to make my own assumption i just say "Oh ok" and leave it at that.

I feel to say stuff like that, you need to have a true understanding of why and how. To be an occasional watcher and have that opinion - well, you just know he is probably Sky Sports number 1 subscriber.

Mate, try supporting a smaller club. Up here in Scotland it's a f*cking nightmare. It's all Rangers and Celtic that you here about, and half of them couldn't name a f*cking Rangers or Celtic first team, yet claim to be a diehard Hun or a Tim.

As for me it's Falkirk Fc. Season ticket holder for 3 years now and I can proudly admit to being a hardcore Bairn. As for Liverpool, those days have yet to come and in a few years they will. Oh by f*ck I can't wait for those days!

I find that Im having as many arguments with Liverpool fans as I am United fans lately. Their is a lazy fan mentality out there amongst some. They will go to the pub to watch the game in the newest kit then go home and watch the reviews on sky. I have found ignorance breeds most volatile responses when both sets are losing their ill informed arguments. Some Liverpool fans question why I dont support local teams to the same extent and the mancs have given me everything from disrespecting the 96 to blaming Rafa for our woes, claiming the owners were much the same as theirs. All I can say is that sometimes anger is a gift that I recieve when haters start to hate

Isn't the rivalry between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester to do with the waterways (import/export) many years ago? And sort of went over to football?

 I think you just have to differentiate between genuine banter and malice.Lets face it we have all worked with fans from other clubs and usually get on OK.There must be loads of Liverpool fans who have relations or mates who are Blues but in those cases you enjoy a pint and taking the piss out of each other.

I know exactly what you mean!

I cannot even entertain someone who does not know what they are talking about-
Either:

Says they support a team, wears the shirt, couldnt name the squad,
or
Says they support a team, could name the squad, only bother watching the odd game when it is convinient to them,
or
Has only `supported` Man-City or Chelsea since they got rich- should they ever go through a rough patch- they wouldnt want to know.

I dont get taken seriously by people that dont know me- mainly because i am a woman & the everyday sexist guy likes to think women dont have a clue about footie.

I rarely go to games but that is more for financial reasons, having a young family. Yet at the same time, I spend a LOT of my spare time on these forums and/or reading about the first team, reserves, academy, transfer gossip, boardroom issue etc etc. Whenever I pull my phone out of my pocket, I'll go on the net to see if there's any LFC news. I have been known to sit in my car for 2 hours or go for a long drive, just so I can listen to our match on 5 Live. I also did my best to spread the word about any campaigns during the H&G period. Perhaps most importantly, I'm also bringing my kids up to be LFC fans even though they live with their mother in Manchester!

So I'm not sure which pigeon hole you'd like me to sit in because it appears I'm somewhere between fan and fanatic  

If you would prefer to class me as a fan then I'm afraid anybody who says I have no right to hate, to use your example, ManUre is frankly talking sh*t. From an early age I've had my heart broken by results that haven't gone our way, where key decisions have deprived us of a win, when I've felt cheated or simply when we've been outplayed by a stronger team (I remember crying when Michael Thomas scored that goal for Arsenal). I didn't need to be at a match to feel physically sick.
By the same token, I've felt the highs. A 1-0 win against a mid-table team on a Wednesday night is still enough to make me smile and lift me for the rest of the week. Footage of Istanbul never fails to send shivers down my spine. What happens to LFC directly affects my own life, the mood I'm in and how I view life (until the next game).

I make no apologies for hating Man Utd and it is for all the same reasons that you have listed, whether I'm attending games or not. In fact, I don't think any of you have the right to tell me whether I can hate or not.

Whether we like it or not, those kind of fans are everywhere for all teams, even Liverpool.

I absolutely hate it when so called 'football fans' try to argue with me when they call my captain, Gerald. One of the best players in the world and they don't know his name is 'Gerrard' and yet tries to argue with me?

I think a lot of it could possibly be attributed to location.

All of my Dad's side of the family are from Liverpool, Aigburth and Toxteth so be precise, and with all of them being LFC fans the inherent nature to hate Man Utd and other rivals is in the blood.

Now I'm not saying it's not in my blood as I was raised as a Liverpool fan from being quite little but in all my 32 years I've probably only been to about 25 Liverpool games due to location, financial and other reasons. I'd class myself as being between options 1 and 2, I follow every aspect as much as I can regarding supporting the club whether it be going to a game if given the chance, buying kit, actually going to Hillsborough every year, joining various internet e-mail campaigns, posting on here(which has earned me several bollockings off the missus ) and generally just keeping myself informed wherever possible.

I'm not for one minute insinuating that people who don't live in or around Liverpool haven't earned the right to hate but I think those in the closest proximity feel it a whole hell of a lot more than anyone else.

  As I was born in St Helens I would consider myself a follower of them, my family are big on rugby, whereas I am not.  I don’t like Warrington Wolves, but I don’t HATE them.

Oi, should think not as well! Cmon the wire!

I rarely go to games but that is more for financial reasons, having a young family. Yet at the same time, I spend a LOT of my spare time on these forums and/or reading about the first team, reserves, academy, transfer gossip, boardroom issue etc etc. Whenever I pull my phone out of my pocket, I'll go on the net to see if there's any LFC news. I have been known to sit in my car for 2 hours or go for a long drive, just so I can listen to our match on 5 Live. I also did my best to spread the word about any campaigns during the H&G period.
Perhaps most importantly, I'm also bringing my kids up to be LFC fans even though they live with their mother in Manchester!

So I'm not sure which pigeon hole you'd like me to sit in because it appears I'm somewhere between fan and fanatic  

If you would prefer to class me as a fan then I'm afraid anybody who says I have no right to hate, to use your example, ManUre is frankly talking sh*t. From an early age I've had my heart broken by results that haven't gone our way, where key decisions have deprived us of a win, when I've felt cheated or simply when we've been outplayed by a stronger team (I remember crying when Michael Thomas scored that goal for Arsenal). I didn't need to be at a match to feel physically sick.
By the same token, I've felt the highs. A 1-0 win against a mid-table team on a Wednesday night is still enough to make me smile and lift me for the rest of the week. Footage of Istanbul never fails to send shivers down my spine.
What happens to LFC directly affects my own life, the mood I'm in and how I view life (until the next game).

I make no apologies for hating Man Utd and it is for all the same reasons that you have listed, whether I'm attending games or not. In fact, I don't think any of you have the right to tell me whether I can hate or not.

You cant pigeonhole Liverpool fans into three categories.
Its impossible.

EG; What about the fans who at one time in their life went every home game for years but due to geographical location now dont and cant go to Anfield anymore?
Do those fans support the team less cos "they're not there"?
No.
Its often painful not to be there.
You just cant relive the Anfield Euro nights by watching a Sony in  France Spain or wherever.
You can FEEL though.

Its this feeling this emotion in you that is so strong that the opposite of it is and has to be ... hate.

To love a club so much and to have experienced the highs and lows of a constant love .......even though your own life changes.
You can leave school, get married, have kids, change jobs, go through illness, go through tragedy and live your life... whilst one thing remains constant over the years.
Your love for the club and the extended family of Liverpool Football Club.

So when I hear a PL manager wanting to "knock us off our f**ing erch" or Shrek screaming at us because of his hatred of us ......
what do you do?
When you read the unforgiveable quotes and comments about this club and the 96.
What do you do?

Walk away?
Do you f**k.!


You take on to the next generation the Legacy of Liverpool FC.

You direct your hate at any threat .....to that which you love.

YNWA

I dont get taken seriously by people that dont know me- mainly because I am a woman & the everyday sexist guy likes to think women dont have a clue about footie.

...bet you can't explain 'offside'











...actually... these days, I don't think anyone can - not even a fella  

I would consider myself a hardcore fanatic even though you probably won't be see me at Anfield very often. A wife, 3 kids a factory job a mortgage have seen to that, but I've been a Liverpool fan for nearly 26 years (since i was 7) and i would argue that there are a lot of Red's out there that don't regularly attend matches, who are more fanatical than some of those that do. You only have to look at the atmosphere at Anfield last season.

As for hating the Manc's, I hate them more than anything in this world, but that makes it all the more sweet when we beat them! It's the match i look forward to most during the season.

We had a similar topic a while ago.

People who post on forums such as this and have done for a while clearly have a passion for LFC.  I'd imagine a lot of fans attending Anfield have never ever been on a forum, or a fansite for instance.

Look for instance how long it took for people at the ground to become aware of Hicks and Gillett. 

I would argue with your categories.

There are supporters, fans and followers.  I, unfortuately, know a lot of the third group who I actually can't seriously debate Liverpool with.  They are the ones who will first find out some of our new players when we are shown on BBC in an FA Cup live game in January.

One of the good things about meeting people off this forum is that I know they are unlikely to be in that third group of people.